Introduction

In 2014 the centenary of the outbreak of World War One, Cumnock History Group began researching the names on the Cumnock War Memorial plus other men and women with Cumnock connections mentioned on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission or in the Cumnock Chronicle of the time. The research is not limited to those who died but also to men and women who served, using family history information.

The group would like to appeal to individuals with knowledge of family members for photographs of the soldier, either in uniform or not, and photos of medals or other memorabilia eg letters sent home from the Front. If you would be prepared to share these on this site, please email the web manager info@cumnockhistorygroup.org The group is willing to share any copies of documents found with the soldier's descendants.

Saturday, 8 October 2016

John Shankland

Reported in the Cumnock Chronicle of 7 June 1918 the death of John Shankland of Tokanui, Southland, New Zealand while on service in France on 29th March 1918. He was the son of John Shankland and the grandson of John Shankland of Bowes Farm, Cumnock.

His father John was born in 1860 and emigrated to New Zealand by 1891 where he married Jane Agnes Parlane on 20th August.   John was a farmer  at Tokanui. Their son John was born in 1892.

John was a rifleman with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade and died at the Somme on 29 March 1918. He was 25.He is buried at Euston Road Cemetery in Colincamps

His father died suddenly a few months later on 17th June 1918 aged 58 and is buried at Quarry Hills Cemetery.

CWGC

Cumnock Connections tree